SALISBURY, Md. - It was an exciting day at the Salisbury
University outdoor tennis courts as the Sea Gull men's team, ranked
No. 26 in the country, hosted No. 20 Christopher Newport University
before a spirited crowd of over 130. SU gutted out a 7-2 win over
the Captains after four hours of play on Thursday.
Salisbury (10-1) entered the contest ranked nationally for the
first time in eight years. The win over the Captains is the second
time this year SU has defeated a nationally ranked team. SU
defeated No. 30 Pomona-Pitzer during Spring Break.
SU is ranked No. 11 in the Atlantic South region while CNU (9-2)
checks in at No. 5 in the region.
Senior Brendan Kincaid clinched the win for the
Gulls as he won at No. 1 singles. Kincaid, ranked No. 13 in singles
in the region, was pushed by CNU's Eddie Glidewell, ranked No. 12
in the region, but held on to win 7-5, 7-5. Salisbury sophomores
Scott Burtzlaff and Evan Thomas
earned points for SU at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
Burtzlaff, the CAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week, defeated Jacob
Braig 6-0, 7-6 (8-6). Thomas won 6-2, 6-3 over CNU's Lorenzo
Sison. SU junior Sasha Felikson defeated Dusty
Nelson 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 6 singles.
CNU's lone point in singles came at No. 5 singles as Ricky
Connor took down freshman David Lupinetti in
straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
The most thrilling match of the night was at No. 2 singles.
Salisbury's Matt Nicholson and CNU's John Mook
battled for over two hours into Thursday evening. Nicholson, ranked
No. 10 in the region, won a second set tiebreaker 7-3 to force a
third set. He eventually won 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
The Sea Gulls jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play to
begin the match. Kincaid and Burtzlaff, ranked No. 10 in the region
at doubles, took down CNU's No. 1 doubles team Glidewell and Mook,
ranked No. 3 in the region, 8-4. Nicholson and Thomas rallied to
win a huge point at No. 2 doubles with an 8-5 win over Nelson and
Sison. The Captains' No. 3 doubles team of Jacob and John
Braig beat SU's Andrew Nottage and Marcus
Robinson, 8-4.
SU will hope to ride this momentum into Saturday's showdown with
Capital Athletic Conference rival and No. 10 University of Mary
Washington on the road at 3 p.m. The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in the
Atlantic South region.
